Realion bets on unified proptech platform to drive Asia-Pacific expansion

It’s creating an app with banking, renovation, and property management services.

Realion Group is investing heavily in software and digital platforms to unify property technology services in the Asia-Pacific region.

“This is in response to the challenge of the abundance of applications and technologies in real estate that lack a singular, comprehensive, and client-focused approach in Asia-Pacific,” CEO Desmond Sim told Real Estate Asia.

The company, created from the merger of Singapore-based Edmund Tie & Co. and OrangeTee & Tie, seeks to create a platform that could anticipate buyer needs and integrate services such as banking, renovation, and property management, he said via Zoom.

The Asia-Pacific property tech market is expected to grow more than 17% annually to $51.8b by 2035, spurred by rapid urbanisation and increasing demand for innovative real estate solutions, according to Market Research Future.

Sim said the platform would be powered by strong data capabilities, letting clients access a broad range of services in one channel. “Our future app would not merely be for property transactions.”

The company’s strategy builds on the strengths of its two founding firms. Edmund Tie operated mainly in the business-to-business space, providing advisory services to institutions, corporations, and people, while Orange Tee focused on business-to-customer transactions through its extensive agency network.

Realion is expanding regionally to Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan, and through partnerships, its reach extends to Europe, he said.

The company is in an alignment and identification phase, assessing the combined talent pool and harmonising best practices from both entities. Sim said this process includes adopting effective management frameworks and engaging staff and stakeholders in shaping the group’s vision.

By integrating technology with a consolidated service model, Realion aims to position itself as a one-stop solution for property-related needs, tapping into the region’s fast-growing proptech potential, he added.